Mark Beck was the hero once again as he maintained his fantastic start to life in Alfreton red, scoring two headed goals against Step 3 opposition Gainsborough Trinity in the Isuzu FA Trophy second round. His brace ensured Alfreton’s progression into the third round, where Alvechurch await.
Alfreton started the game brightly and could easily have scored two or three in the opening stages. Beck himself had strong early chances—first from a Billy Fewster corner, which he headed into the ground, and then from a Taylor Anderson cross, which he volleyed over the bar. But just five minutes into the first half, the breakthrough finally came.
George Cantrill’s long throw was recycled back out to the captain, whose lifted cross found Beck lurking at the back post. The striker glanced his header past former Alfreton goalkeeper David Robson to make it 1–0.
However, the first half was marred by a significant injury to Billy Fewster, who was forced off with a shoulder issue and later taken to hospital. After the injury stoppage, the momentum shifted. Gainsborough Trinity grew into the game and ended the half as the better side—pressure they carried into the second half.
Just six minutes after the restart, Trinity made their dominance count. Javelle Clarke was brought down in the box by Harry Hawkins after Alfreton once again failed to defend a set piece effectively. Frank Mulhern stepped up and buried the penalty to level the game at 1–1.
The match fell into a period of stalemate afterward, with neither team able to take control or craft clear-cut chances. That changed on the hour mark when Jake Buxton altered his system, bringing off Dodoo and Anderson for Lewis Salmon and Ligendza, shifting to a 4-4-2. The introduction of Salmon proved crucial.
Salmon immediately added a new attacking dimension—direct, energetic, and willing to run at defenders rather than searching for long passes. His impact was rewarded just 10 minutes after coming on. Bursting down the flank on a rapid counter-attack, Salmon burned past his marker and delivered a superb left-footed cross onto the head of Beck, who nodded home his second of the afternoon to restore Alfreton’s lead.
From there, the final 20 minutes were about game management. Alfreton remained disciplined, limiting Gainsborough to half-chances. The only notable late moment was a long-range strike from Jed Abbey, forcing an excellent save from Robson to keep the scoreline intact.
Alfreton held firm to secure the 2–1 victory and book their place in the third round. With Alvechurch up next, a win would put them just four games from Wembley—but as the saying goes, it’s best not to get carried away.
